Final Sprint after 3 days racing The Ford Focus-Pirelli of Hirvonen Wins

Hirvonen, Latvala and Loeb fought till the very last minute during the last day of Rally Turkey.

Kemer, 15 June 2008 - Mikko Hirvonen (Ford Focus WRC-Pirelli) back to victory in Turkey and leader of the FIA World Rally Championship just three points ahead of Sébastien Loeb. The standard bearer of CitroÃ«n fought till the very last minute trying to pass Hirvonen and his team mate Jari-Matti Latvala, but he is still in Mikko's wake in the World Championship and as his co-driver, Daniel Elena, said "it will be their turn to smooth the way for us next rally in Finland".

Mikko Hirvonen wins (Ford Focus WRC-Pirelli)

Galli (also in a Scorpion-shod Ford Focus), after being slowed down by mechanical problem did not start this morning due to a sudden indisposition that caught him yesterday evening.

"Besides the satisfaction for this win I'm really happy for a result that allow me to take again the lead in the Championship" said Hirvonen. "Being first on the road with two special stages of over 30 km each to tackle hasn't been easy, but I could find a good rhythm and I've been supported well by the tyres. Pirelli supplied strong tyres that worked really well on the tough roads we tackle here in Turkey".

Sébastien Loeb fought till the very last minute to pass Mikko ,WRC Turkey

CitroÃ«n's Sébastien Loeb, who did a very well throughout then whole race, praised the tyres manufactured by Pirelli right here in Turkey too, saying that "the Italian technicians did a very good job. I never had problems with the Scorpion during this rally where we race with a high rhythm all the way. Hirvonen and Latvala have been really fast, but the Championship is still very long...".

Peter Tyson, Pirelli's Marketing Director Motorsport, says that "also in this second rally with really tough roads and weather conditions, the hard compound Pirelli Scorpion proved to be strong and performing. Congratulations to Ford for this win that makes the fight in the Championship extremely heated and credit due to Loeb, brilliant especially in the first part of the race".